Representative Charles Augustus Crow

Charles Augustus Crow (March 31, 1873 – March 20, 1938) was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri who served one term in Congress from 1909 to 1911. Over the course of his public and private career, he was engaged in agriculture, real estate, insurance, and federal service as a postmaster, and he represented the interests of his constituents during a significant period in early twentieth-century American political life.

Crow was born on March 31, 1873, on a farm near Sikeston, Scott County, Missouri. He attended the common schools of the area, receiving a basic rural education typical of the time. His early years were spent in an agricultural setting, which helped shape his later professional focus on farming and land-related enterprises. Growing up in southeastern Missouri, he became familiar with the economic and social conditions of small farming communities that he would later represent in public office.

In August 1896, Crow moved to a farm near Bernie, in Stoddard County, Missouri, where he continued to engage in agricultural pursuits. Seeking broader opportunities, he relocated in 1901 to Caruthersville in Pemiscot County, Missouri. There he entered the real estate and insurance business, expanding his professional activities beyond farming. His work in these fields reflected the development and commercialization of the region at the turn of the century and gave him experience in local economic affairs and community leadership.

Crow’s involvement in public service began in earnest when he was appointed postmaster of Caruthersville. He served in that federal position from May 19, 1902, to January 14, 1909. As postmaster, he oversaw local postal operations during a period of growth in communication and commerce, further raising his profile in the community and within the Republican Party. This role provided him with administrative experience and direct contact with citizens, which helped lay the groundwork for his subsequent congressional career.

Crow was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-first Congress and served as a U.S. Representative from Missouri from March 4, 1909, to March 3, 1911. His single term in the House of Representatives coincided with a significant period in American history marked by progressive-era reforms and debates over economic regulation and federal authority. As a member of the House, Charles Augustus Crow participated in the legislative process, contributed to deliberations on national policy, and represented the interests of his Missouri constituents in the democratic process. A member of the Republican Party, he took part in the party’s efforts to address issues of the day while reflecting the concerns of his largely rural district.

In 1910, Crow was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the Sixty-second Congress, bringing his formal congressional service to a close after one term. Following his departure from national office in 1911, he moved to Campbell, Missouri, where he resumed agricultural pursuits. He also continued to engage in the real estate and insurance business, returning to the lines of work that had defined his pre-congressional career. In these endeavors, he remained an active figure in local economic life, drawing on his experience in both business and public service.

Charles Augustus Crow died in Campbell, Missouri, on March 20, 1938, at the age of 64. He was interred in Woodlawn Cemetery. His family line remained notable in American public life and culture; he is one of singer Sheryl Crow’s great-grandfathers.